Newcastle United may be underdogs heading into the 2025 Carabao Cup Final clash against Liverpool but that hasn’t stopped a number of pundits backing Eddie Howe’s men to come out on top.
The Magpies travel to Wembley Stadium having already dumped out Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Wimbledon, Brentford and Arsenal on their way to the final. It’s been a tough run and gives the players belief that they can beat anyone on their day.
Liverpool will be the toughest test of all, obviously. Arne Slot’s men are romping to the Premier League title, but have seen their hopes of further glory dashed by defeat on penalties in the Champions League this week by Paris St Germain. They remain favourites this weekend, however, but how do some of the country’s most renowned pundits predict the cup final will go?
Alan Shearer
“I’m predicting Newcastle to win 2-1, in normal time. I’m due on a flight Monday morning, but I’m not sure I’ll make it if Newcastle do win. I might have to cancel it until Tuesday morning!
“I’ve got several options for what to do and where to go if we win. If we don’t win, then there’s only one option, I’m going home! If we win, I’ll be happy and emotional, because I’ve always said that I need and want to see this football club win a trophy in my lifetime. I’m 54 years of age, nearly 55, and I haven’t seen us win a trophy.
“From a Newcastle point of view, I was quite pleased that Liverpool went to extra-time and penalties on Tuesday night. That could’ve only benefited Newcastle and it certainly wouldn’t have helped Liverpool’s preparations so from that point of view, it was a good thing.
“Liverpool will still be favourites but Newcastle are going with a fighting chance and if they can be at their very best, tough and horrible to play against, it could be a great night.”
Gary Neville
“Here we go — I think Liverpool will win 2-1 or 2-0… 2-0 Liverpool,” Neville said on the Stick To Football podcast brought to you by Sky Bet.
“Do you know you know something? Newcastle never play well at Wembley. When you watch Newcastle at Wembley, you see all them fans that have travelled like six, seven hours, you think go on and give them something, surprise them.”
Speaking on his own podcast earlier this week, Neville, who had a fiery relationship with Liverpool during his Man United days, admitted he would love to see the Magpies triumph. “It goes without saying who I want to win but not necessarily just because of the rivalry with Liverpool
“It feels years and decades since Newcastle, Spurs, Villa, Everton have won a trophy. Imagine the atmosphere if Newcastle did it.
“Liverpool are big favourites – they’re in such great form and look so solid throughout. Hopefully it’s a good game and Newcastle can stay in the game.
“It will be tough though because Liverpool are firing on all cylinders. They will want more trophies and medals. They have players like Salah and Van Dijk that just don’t look like coming off the pitch as losers. That’s the problem Newcastle have.”
Nicky Butt
“When you look at Newcastle, going into it [the final] with a positive, the game they played against West Ham,” he told TalkSPORT.
“Liverpool lost last night [against PSG]. You’re going to go into a game with not so much momentum.
“What I will say is Newcastle fans are going to be loud. They will be unbelievable.
“It’s a tough game. If it were not for [PSG defeat], I would be saying Liverpool are strong favourites. But I’ve got a sneaky feeling for Newcastle. I hope they go on and win it.”
Les Ferdinand
“I’ll be at Wembley to cover the final for Sky just as I was a couple of years back. I felt they weren’t quite ready against Manchester United but this time it can be different because they have better players.
“Yes, Newcastle have been dealt massive blows with Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall and Sven Botman but they still have the likes of Alexander Isak who is as good a centre-forward as there is in the world.”
Paul Merson
“[Slot] has got to pick them up for the League Cup final. I know it’s a nice one to get picked up for, but they’ll be disappointed, you know, going out the Champions League, and you looked at the draw and if they could have won, they would have probably played Aston Villa where they’d have fancied themselves, even though I thought it’d have been a hard game.
“Now they’ve got to pick themselves up. I would think mentally, losing the game. If they’d have won the game and won on penalties, they’d have that energy. It would have come, you get the air in the lungs.
“Now they’d be a bit distraught. They’ll be disappointed. They’ve got to pick themselves up for a cup final against a team that haven’t won a trophy since I was born, so it’s a massive football match. Big advantage to Newcastle.”
Chris Sutton
“We all know how much it would mean for Newcastle to end their long wait for a major trophy, but they have not beaten Liverpool since December 2015, a run of 17 games.
“When you consider the Magpies are without Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon – their entire first-choice on the left flank – I really don’t see that run ending at Wembley. I am expecting Tino Livramento to replace Hall and try to stop Mohamed Salah. Livramento is mobile and quick, but I don’t think he will keep Salah quiet all game.
“It won’t be easy for Liverpool, though. They are without Trent Alexander-Arnold and, with Conor Bradley likely to be sidelined too, they will need to find someone to fill in at right-back.
“The midfield battle will be key, because Newcastle are very good in that area, especially now Joelinton is back alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, but it is one of Liverpool’s strengths too.
“Arne Slot’s biggest issue is how the Reds will react to the disappointment of going out of the Champions League against Paris St-Germain, but I don’t see them having a hangover from that shootout defeat.
“My gut feeling is that we will see a few goals, and Liverpool will win in 90 minutes. Prediction: 3-2”
Andy Carroll
“I will be [at the game]. I’m going to have to ask the [Bordeaux] manager if I can leave straight after the game on Saturday, drive to Paris to fly home to get straight to the game on Sunday and take the kids.
“Me and my boys are wanting, obviously, the win and my dad’s coming with me so we’re all wanting the win but it’s going to be a tough one. If I’m going to go anything I’m going to go 2-1 to Newcastle.”
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